1948-2-29 The Man Who Was Death

Broadcast February 29th 1948 on Mutual at 5:00 p.m. EST sponsored by D.L. & W. Coal Company "Blue Coal"

This episode is included in Radio Spirits CD set The Shadow: Knight of Darkness

Written by: Alfred Bester

Announcer: Andre Baruch

Cast: Bret Morrison (Lamont Cranston/The Shadow) & Grace Matthews (Margot Lane) Arnold Moss, Amzie Strickland, Bernard Lenrow

Music: Elsie Thompson

Synopsis:

Margot and Lamont are on the trail of Roger Lash, a scientist who has been violently burned by radiation in an explosion at a secret laboratory. Starting out with money as a motive to help his family through a series of robberies and brutal murders, Lash develops a crazy lust for power. Overhearing the news media referring to him as “The Burning Man,” Lash assumes he has god-like powers and starts spreading death and terror wherever he goes. Lash manages to evade the police while Lamont and Weston use the city’s network of telephone wires to trace currents of radiation via static on the lines to track down the radioactive killer. Returning to the sub-cellar where the destroyed scientific apparatus remains, his power ebbing, Lash attempts to give himself a charge to become strong and powerful. The Shadow arrives to remind him that his flame is dying and can never be replenished — his only hope is to be taken to the medical authorities who will do everything possible to save his life. Lash agrees, knowing his chances are minimal at best.

Listen to this episode

Note:

The script for this episode was published in Sanctum Reprint #39 Face of Doom & The Crime Ray